Al Horford Pectoral Injury Destroys Atlanta Hawks' NBA Playoff Hopes

Atlanta Hawks starting center Al Horford is expected to be out for the next three to four months with a torn left pectoral muscle.

This is a devastating blow for a Hawks team which was looking to make a statement this season, and it absolutely cripples the team's depth inside.

Horford, a true power forward playing out of position at center, had been playing 32 minutes per game for the team with averages of 12.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 55.3 percent shooting.

That production not going to be easily replaced.

In fact, it may not be replaceable at all.

Horford, who has missed just 21 games over the last four seasons, is now staring a very lengthy absence in the face, and the Hawks do not have an adequate replacement for him on the team.

With just veteran Zaza Pachulia, Jason Collins and D-League product Ivan Johnson behind Horford on the roster, the Hawks will almost certainly have to look outside the organization in order to help supplement the monumental loss.

A linchpin of the Hawks attack, the loss of Horford is going to be a very difficult one to cope with going forward.

Atlanta's is currently 7-4, but there's no doubt that Horford's injury really impacts their outlook for the rest of the season.

The Eastern Conference is volatile enough that the Hawks should find a way to still make it into the postseason with key cogs Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and youngster Jeff Teague leading the way, but everyone on the roster will have to step up now that Horford is sidelined.

Horford brought more than production in the box score, and it's even tougher to replace the intangibles he brought to the table for a club looking to turn the corner.

Zaza Pachulia is expected to start while Horford is out (barring an unforeseen trade), and while Pachulia certainly isn't afraid to back down from any competition, he just doesn't have the same appeal that Horford does in the starting five.

It's an injury that will leave a lot of Hawks fans absolutely disheartened, and there is no question that it greatly opens up the postseason race in the Eastern Conference.

The only certainty out of all this is the following: Horford isn't coming back anytime soon.